That cross involves strengthening his brethren – we, who, like him, are "partakers of Christ's sufferings, so that, when his glory is revealed, we may also be glad and rejoice with great joy" By Anthony Esolen* An icon depicting the scene in which Christ asks Peter three times, “Peter, do you love Me?” If [...]
We keep "hidden" what is most precious: Our life in Christ By Anthony Esolen* Parable of the Hidden Treasure, Rembrandt, c.1630 (Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest) In the 14th petition of the Litany of the Sacred Heart, “Heart of Jesus,” we say, “in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, have mercy [...]
What it means to be a member of the Body of Christ By Anthony Esolen* Christ, the Church and its members, in a 14th century fresco by Giusto de' Menabuoi, in the dome of the baptistery of the Cathedral of Padua, Italy I like very much the conversation that Milton’s Adam has with his [...]
"Two ways there are, one of life and one of death, and great is the difference between the two ways" — Opening of the Didachē tōn dodeka apostolōn (The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles), ca. first century, AD By Anthony Esolen* Mosaic of Christ in the apse of the Abbey Church of St. Maria Laach, Germany [...]
The Eyes of the heart and the darkness within By Anthony Esolen* Sermon on the Mount by Henrik Olrik, Altarpiece from St. Matthaeus Church in Copenhagen, Denmark Suppose you are attending a concert, and you are listening to an intricate work of musical genius, such as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. You are expecting to hear [...]
The Lord cheers the heart of my youth, not just in age, but in spirit The Anointing of David by Samuel, by Félix Joseph Barrias, Musée de la Ville de Paris "Then I shall go in unto the altar of God, of God, who gives joy to my youth" (Ps. 42:4). By Prof. Anthony [...]
The poetry of Scripture can deepen our understanding of its meaning By Anthony Esolen Parable of the Hidden Treasure, Rembrandt (1606-1669), Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest. In the circle, the British poet George Herbert, whom Prof. Esolen considers to be the greatest lyric poet in English It is a sorrow of mine [...]
The Gospel relates the story of the boy Jesus, at once prosaic and unfathomable By Anthony Esolen The Finding of Jesus by William Holman Hunt, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery People who say the Gospels are mere romances, C.S. Lewis once said, evidently do not know what romances are about. Not to mean any [...]
Mary is the true Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey By Anthony Esolen Madonna and Child, by Lippo Memmi, now in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, Germany “Blessed be the womb that bore you,” cried a woman from the crowd, “and the breasts that you sucked!” But Jesus said, “Blessed rather are those who [...]
He is the great Vindicator, who pays our ransom "skin for skin" By Anthony Esolen The resurrection of the dead in a detail from Michelangelo’s Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel A few nights ago, when my wife’s beloved father lay in the hospital, comfortable and at peace, I searched my Breviarium Romanum for [...]
